The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-06-03

Then the return march was taken
up in the heavy rain.
The meeting at the hall was called
to order by Mr.. James CaVanagh.
After patriotic song by the volun-
teer choir and prayer by Rev. Father
Cleary, Mr.. Cavanagh introduced Col.
Mum, who delivered the following
address
Mr.. PRESIDENT OF THE DAY, COMRADES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN My theme
is the value of our liberties. We esti-
mate value from cost. If this be cor
rect criterion, of how much value must
we estimate the liberties and blessings
we to-day enjoy as people. We have
long had and enjoyed our Independ-
ence day !" we now have our Decora-
ton day"
On the 4th of July we meet to cele-
brate. On the 30th Of May we meet to
decorate to strew flowers on the graves
of our departed heroes in memory Of
their daring deeds.
s. Flowers to deck the sacred ground;
Flowers the fairest and the best,
Etrew them on each guarded mound,
Where our martyred heroes rest.
Irvine with laurels from the hills
Natures sweetness and her bloom;
Crocus flowers and daffodils,
Lilies breathing sweet perfume.
Myrtle bring and mignonette,
Pansies, and from out the wild
Coax the blue-eyed violet,
Mother natures darling child.
o, dead heroes | do they know
Do they heed these rites of ours?
How our eyes with tears DER flow
VIII iloour hands are dropping flowers
Doubt ii not We blossoms shed!
Soon your sweetness shall decay
But love, the living and the dead,
Link forever and for aye"
The custom of decorating graves is not
new one, but is quite ancient. Other
nations have their decoration days,
The graves of the soldiers that fell under
the dashing Napoleon are annually
decorated with the choicest flowers.
For about two hundred and fifty years
the " feast of shells" at Plymouth Rock
has been annually observed in COM
memoration Of the landing of our first
ancestors. l believe the 30th of Nav
will become one of the most honored
anniversaries of the American people.
On its annual return will come to us
afresh the thrilling scenes that cluster
around nations liberation. We catch
new glimpes of the hopes, the trials, the
heaviness of heart, and, underlying all,
we behold the deep, unwavering resolu-
lions of stout souls, imbued with heredi.
tary love of country and undying devo-
ton to liberty and union.
On this day comes back to us with a
power of impression which we would
not have weakened not only the valiant
and venerable names and deeds of the
leading lights of the revolution, and a
fresh recollection of the trials and suf-
ferings of our Washington, who stands
gloriGed in the dawn of that early morn
ing Of our independence, but the heroes
of our day, the veterans of the late war,
the victories won by those who passed
through paths of fire and blood, to pre-
serve for you and for me what our
fathers bequeathed us. Upon these
men and what they did we think with
wonder, gratitude, reverance. Twenty,
five years ago, when war was threatened
no one dreamed of what was before us.
We all seemed to underrate the strength
Of our enemy. Our leaders talked Of a
sixty days contest they seemed to
thinks it impossible for men enough to
be found in the union to make any con-
tinued resistance to the authority of the
government but few, if any, fully com.
pretended the situation, while one of eu1
conspicuous political leaders expressed
a willingness to let the Southern states
peaceably withdraw" from the Union
In justice / must add he afterward cried
Son to Richmond"
Lincoln said to the people, give me
$4,000 men and hundred million dollars
and will crush the rebellion. But il
was not so to be. The price of freedom
to the world was to be paid. More mer
and more money were to be offered.
more costly sacrifice was to be made
And it was ready. The fire upon Stump
ter touched magazine in every heart
The Northern sky was illuminated with
the fire of patriotism. The musket anG
sword were seized and the tramp of fif
teen hundred thousand brave men wa,
heard coming over our prairies, through
our valleys and down our mountain
sides.
Forming their ranks and marching along,